Combination fruit-jar opener and sealer



E. V. PHILLIPS.

COMBINATION FRUIT JAR OPENER AND SEA LER. APPLICATION map NOV- 23.1921.

iAQQAm, PatentedSep-t. 19,1922

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Ill Ill-III 14 j E. V. PHILLIPS.

COMBINATION FRUIT JAR OPENER AND SEALER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7775.7 Vi 5 14 Ea.

grvuewto'c as W I I versed as used for Opening the small size Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE...

EDGAR v. PHILLIPS, or J'AMESTOWN, Maw 2031:.

COMBINATION FRUIT-.I I'AR OPENER AND SEALER.

' Application filed November 23,1921. Sjerial No. 517,392.

fruit jars, powdered milk jars and similarreceptacles; and the objectof the improvement is to provide .a simple and strong clamping construction adapted to the difi'erent styles and sizes of jars now being used, so that'the jars may be opened or sealed with a minimum amount of strength, the

angular knife for breaking the rubber seal being placed at the point of highest lever.- age, and both jaws of the clamping members are constructed to engage the different types of jars; and the invention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the fruit jar opener showing the preferred form and arrangement of. the parts. Fig. 2

is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 1s a sectional view at line 3-3 in Fig. lshowing the preferred arrangement adjacent the hinging joint between the two. parts of the clamping tongs. Fig. 4 is a sectional view at line 44: in Fig. 1 showing the action of the an ular knife in breaking the rubber seal. ig. 5 is a sectional view at line 44 in Fig. 1 with the'clamping members rethreaded or so-called Mason type of fruit jars. 'Fig. 6 is a plan view of the hinged 'oint between the clamping members'showmg a modification of the single hinge joint.

whereby the distance between the clamping members may be enlarged. Fig. 7 is a sectional view at line 1-4 showing the clamping members in position as used for openin the large size threaded or so-called Mason jars. Fig. 8 is a view of the slip joint simi-- lar to the one shown in Fig. 6 with the .exception that the pintle bolt is shown in section to show its flat sides; and Fig. 9 is an elevation of said pintle boltremoved' from the aws' of the clamping tongs.

Like characters'of reference refer to .cor responding parts in the several views.

ber19'and jar 20 or jar cap 21.

The numeral 10 designates one of the clampin members, and the numeral 11 the other, w ich members are hinged to one another usually by the hinge pintle 12 in single holes in the ends of the clamping members opposite the handles. Among the vacuum or semi-vacuum sealmg cap jars, there are a number of different types, the threaded or so' called Mason.

cap in two different sizes, and the ,so-called Lightning or Atlas type both with rubber seals. The jaws 10 and 11' of the clamping members are arranged to fit and attach or re move, that is, seal or open, the cap or top of the fruit jars of the different typeset In order to grasp the smaller size threaded type of jar which is shown in 'Fig. 5 and designated by the numeral 13, the spaced toothed inward projections 14 are provided preferably four in number. These might be continuous on each jaw, but this is unnecessary, the toothed portions being more adapt- .able to the contour than the continuous .toothed projection and more readily fitting to different jar tops since said jar tops are not always alike though same. v

For the. larger type of the screw cap or Mason fruit jars, as shown at 15 inFig. 7, the inner side of the rim portion 16 of the two jaws is toothed'to clasp onto the screw cap 17 when turning the same onto or 05 from the jar 15. j

In order to open the rubber-sealed or socalled Lightning or Atlas type of jars, a

supposedly v the downwardly and inwardly projecting knife 18 is provided referabl on the right jaw a short distance rom the inging pintle 12 in order to obtain a large leverage on said'knife in forcing it into the joint between the rubthe cap 21 and rubber 19, a downward projection '22 is provided on the jaw 11 opposite the knife 18 to held against; the same on the v j opposite side of the jar and cap Inward projections 23 and 24 are also provided on the jaw 11 opposite the knife 18 which rest .upon the top'of the cap 21. A spring 25 is attached to the jaw 10 near the knife 18 so as to spring up over the top of a round ing cap 21 and ensure holding thesame, and also spacing the distance correctly from the knife. 18 so that said knife will invarihbly seek the joint between the-cap 21 and '1 the jar 20. The projections 23 and 24 and a, spring 25 hold all'known forms of caps llke 21. firmly while the angular hife 18 is being inserted'in the packed joint to jaws 10 and 11, a

the vacuum suction on the cap 21.

In order to enlar the space between the vided in place of the single pintle hinge 12 in which the dumb bell shaped slot '27 is lid provided in one jaw 28, while the bolt 29 extends through a single round opening in the jaw 30. The bolt 29 has the flattened sides 31 so that the jaws 28 311(1'30 may be opened sufiiciently to permit the slippingof the bolt 29 from one circular end to the other of the slot 27,-.thereby diminishing or enlarging the slot as desired, yet givinga positive gripping hold for the jaws on the I hers 1 0 and 11 are preferably made of sufi- (lit ' to open large caps.

hinging bolt or pintle 29 in the circular ends of said slot 27*. This arrangement provides for the enlargement of the space between the circular portions of the clamping members so as to adapt saidmembers for use upon large jars, as, for example, the hospital size of powdered milk jars, the caps of which often fit so tightly upon the threaded.

neck of the jar as to be difiicult of removal.

The circular jaws of the clamping memcaps 17, which serrated portion, taken withthe slip joint-'26, en

ables the userof the tool What is claimed as new is} 3 j i 1. A tool-of the class described, comprising two semi-circular shaped jaws hinged to each. other, handles on said jaws," and a plurality of different sized fixed. toothed curves on difi'erent levels on said jaws to y fit jancaps' of relatively large circularportions of saidjaws on the reverse clamping and small sizes.

2. A tool of the class described'compris ing two semi-circular shaped .jaws hinged to each other having handles thereon, spaced toothed curved pro ections onthe inner sides of each of said jaws togrip the ca of the jar or bottle of relative y small iameter,

inward projections attached to and'alongside said spaced inward projectiomtorest n on the top of the cap, said aws having too ed break ip joint 26 'may be proheathen serrations around the inner side of the same and alongside said inward toothed prospaced toothed projections on the inner sides of each of said jaws to grip the cap of the jar or bottle, flat inward projections attached to said spaced inward projections to.

rest upon the top of said cap, a projection on one of said jaws in the circular plane thereof and on the reverse side from said toothed projections, and an angular inturned knife on the opposite jaw frpm said projections spaced to enter the sealing joint of a jar to break the vacuum suction and open said jar.

4. In a tool of the class described, the combination of semi-circular shaped jaws hinged to each other at one end and handles on the other ends, spaced I toothed projections on the inner sides of each of said jaws to grip the cap of one type of jar or bottle, inward projections attached to said jaw? alongside said spaced inwand projecjection on one of said jaws in the circular plane thereof and on the reverse side. from said toothed projection, an inturned knife onthe opposite jaw from said projection spaced to enter the sealing oint of a jar to break the vacuum suction to open sald jar,

and a spring attached to the jaw alongside said knife and spaced therefrom to resiliently hold the jar cap in opening the jar.

hinged to each other, handles on said jaws tions torest upon-the top of said cap, a pro- 5. In a tool of the class described, the v combination of semi-circular shaped jaws, a slip joint hinging connection between said jaws at one. end to form a pair of clamping. members capable of enlargement, handles on the other ends of said semi-circular jaws,

spaced toothed inward projections on the inner sides of said jaws, an inwardly projecting leaf springon one of said toothed r0 j'ections, -aninwardly projecting" knife a spaced distance from said spring corresponding substantially to the thickness of a jar cap, and toothed serrations aronnd'the side from said knife to clampingly engage screw caps and similar jar closures; 

